Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship - Report Example

Social Networks xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Name xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Course xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Lecturer xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Date Executive Summary Communication within our societies has today become more effective as compared to before thanks to the internet. It is quite evident that social networking sites are gradually gaining popularity across the globe especially among educated youth. This popularity is considered to play a very important role in bridging the bridges that existed in communicating across boundaries and seas. It is for this reason that this paper focuses on discussing whether the world would be a safer place if social media such as facebook did not exist. It will initialize with a broad introduction which will discussed various social sites. Advantages will discuss why world is a safer place to be in with the existence of facebook and disadvantages disagreeing with the statement. Refutation on the disadvantaged will be given so as to indicate if correction are made to these disadvantages then world will be a better place to live in with the existence of facebook. Finally, all this will be summarized in the conclusion paragraph. Introduction With this era of globalization, the universe is becoming a small place to various portals and electronic media. Communication within our societies has today become more effective as compared to before thanks to the internet. It is quite evident that social networking sites are gradually gaining popularity across the globe especially among educated youth1 (Back, 2010). This popularity is considered to play a very important role in bridging the bridges that existed in communicating across boundaries and seas. To understand more it is very essential to understand what is meant by a social network. A social networking service is an online service or site that widely focuses on reflecting and building of social relations and networks among individuals. It mainly consists of a user representation often used as a profile connecting to one individual links2 . Social networks are mainly web based and provide the user with mean to interact via the internet. Popular social networking sites include; Face book and Twitter commonly used worldwide, Tagged, Badoo, Hi5, Linkedin and Myspace to mentioned but a few. With the increase usage of the internet, social networking websites are considered to be a vital toll for enhancing communication so as the internet community can stay in touch with one another3 . Further today, social networking is assisting the wider community in making new friends, distribute information and various other aspects. Due to the rapid growth of social networking, there is entire need to formulate study that discusses the various advantages and disadvantages of social media in our society. Therefore, this paper focuses on discussing whether social media such as facebook would provide a world that is safe to be in4. The paper focuses on indicating that the world is a safer place to be in due to the existence of Facebook. Advantages of facebook Clearly, it is quite evident that social media is advantageous in the wider community especially in easing communication. Community especially businesses and educational institution have various advantages that are mainly as a result of facebook. These advantages will widely elaborate on why the world would be safer place with the presence of facebook in socio media networking. The various advantages are; Increased communication across the world Facebook as a social media offers chances of communication across the globe especially in cases where mobility is considered to be a hindrance to social interactions. For instance, people with disability or elderly who are incapable of leaving the house is able to keep in touch with happenings in her surroundings thus enabling effective communication5. Facebook as a social network media have created communication that provides a unique and convenient tool that does not require the presence of an individual in order to participate. Another major way that communication is boosted through facebook is that those with dysfunctional syndrome are assisted in having social interaction that initially was impossible or difficult6 . Through the establishment of communication by way of facebooking, many people are able to form support groups by being able to communicate with people with same interest or those with same health related issues. People find it easier to reach out in facebook media since its more anonymous thus allowing individuals to be more in control of information being shared. Facebook being an example social networking sites enable communication in that people are able to reconnect with family and friends thus strengthening family ties and relationships. This is act as a creative initiative that is expressed by way of new medium. Opportunity growth for small businesses It is quite evident that the use of facebook within businesses grounds is building up so rapidly. In order to understand more on social networking especially in respect to facebook and their role in the development of a small business in the current economic climate, it is very essential to define what social networking is. For development of small businesses in today economic current, it is important that they engage in marketing effort through engaging in face booking so as to save on time and money in reaching to their potential customers. Further, it is evident that facebook networking is widely considered to be consumer technology which entails wikis, blogs and virtual world thus exchange of information across the business world7 . Research indicates that leading use of facebook across the world is and will continue to attract millions of visitors which are advantageous to the small business world. When millions of customers are able to visit facebook website on daily basis, business creates a good direct relationship thus creating corporate image that will automatically sell globally8 . Due to today complexity in the global business environment, small business should realize that vendors, coworkers and customers work businesses that are widely located anywhere across the globe. Processes within business are becoming more complex forcing them to be automated since humans cannot perform all duties intended within the time available9. Mobility is also another factor creating complexity since an individual may be working from a car, home, in a coffee shop and in another country. This therefore calls for working with one another regardless of the distance and location which can only be achieved by effectively using facebook. Asserts that, facebook plays a major role here toward development since it enables small business work in achieving their goals regardless of their locality10 . Arguably, one of the best uses of facebook as a social networking site is availability of free market research. Small business are today widely focusing in strengthening relationships with their customers by way of asking feedbacks about new products and services on facebook as opposed to paying for a public survey or creation of test group. Small business should are creating a private facebook group when it fills that its competitors are introducing similar products and goods. In addition, facebook encourage employees’ relation thus good working relation encouraging business society to live peacefully with one another11. Creating a forum such as a business only face book or a designed a facebook style social network will widely encourages employees to work together thus focusing on attaining desired goals and objectives. It is through building on strong relation that small businesses are able to find appropriate people to work more effectively towards a positive outcome. Relationship ensures that employees within small businesses are able to exchange information that is vital in developing businesses in current economic current. Clearly, the creation of opportunity in small businesses indicates that the world is a safe place due to the existence of Facebook. Unity in communities It is quite evidence that the use of facebook as a social networking site has brought a sense of unity and belong across nations as compared before where people felt alienated due to the inability to relate with other individual locally. Sense of belonging and unity is created in that individuals are able to share information giving chances of discovering interest and hobbies of other people across the globe12. Further, cross-culture has been encouraged since through facebook are making people from different cultural background are meeting to share their interest. People no longer see the world as a bigger place as communication has been expanded across the globe13. Clearly, with the level of trust being currently observed across the world, facebook considerably allow individuals to have online interaction which are considered to be easier way in strengthening communal communication with various members14. For instance, unity in community is brought about by communication done on timely basis thus giving ample time for discussion. Facebook media encourage such communication and that is why it is been seen to create unity in our community. By way of encouraging such communication, facebook both inform and involve people on local events15 . Unity brought about by use of Facebook clearly gives an indication that the world is a safe place to live in. Student use facebook in research work Survey indicate that student have adapted the use of facebook to discuss educational topics with other students across the globe. These educational topics range from college planning, assignments and careers objectives. Most parents and teachers indicate that students that have been using facebook site in their studies have greatly improved on their writing, reading and skills especially on conflict resolutions. In addition, students are able to express themselves more clearly and also students from other cultural background are able to interact16 . Facebook widely ensures that education is promoted in all angles thus establishing proper international learning standards. Students are able to share research information by way of using their facebook profiles by way of links, application and review. They channel information from other sources and share with other students as a way of providing information related to education17 . It is quite evident that with the rapid growth of facebook usage, students are been encouraged to use the site as to ease communication on educational matters. Clearly students should focus on enjoying all educational opportunities being created by these sites to gather interactive topics, creative research and interactive discussion on different school programs found across the globe18. Promotion of education research by Facebook gives student an ample and conducive way of learning giving the indication that the world is a safe learning haven. News coverage Today, facebook is becoming more beneficial in both learning and educational institutions in that news coverage is vast. Through the sites, news is obtained from the internet where facebook network users may peruse information by way of widget application and links. The designed applications provide live feed for news happening across the globe19 . This can be through updating on user profile thus passing information to all his/her friends which is a further indication of constant communication and connection which is displayed by facebook creating another benefit to the society at large. It is evident that facebook users have bigger social networks as compared to other non-users. This have enabled them use facebook site to sustain those relations facilitates more face-to-face communication. Internet users are augmenting their offline social networks, not replacing them20. When news are received within the shortest time possible then, the world is definitely the best place to be in. Disadvantages of facebook services The disadvantage discussed below give reason to describe why the world would be a safer place if social media such facebook did not exist at any given time. This statement will be greatly discussed in the following disadvantages. Infantilism Despite the listed and discussed positive effects of the facebook usage, there are several reported negative impacts that the services have had on people. To begin with, many persons who have been hooked on the use of the facebook tend to suffer from infantilism; infantilism is the persistence of having infantile characteristics much like those of young persons or babies. This causes the adult persons to always to constantly need a stimulus to be able to be able to perform a given duty they are supposed to. Scientists have been reported that this is happening to many adult minds that have been hooked to the social site networks. Many have the habit and practice to log on to the sites to find out of any thing new like new pictures or persons status in the site. This acts like a booster to have them kick start their day21 . Without this, many tend to have a slow start to their daily duties. This tends to drive many from the focus they are to have on an issue for more than an hour or more. This causes many addicts have an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This also implies that the facebook sites tend to have people spend most of their productive time on them and give minimal meaningful time and effort to things that are able to have positive impact on their lives and the society at large22 . Depression and loneliness Secondly, the high addiction to the facebook tend to cause depressions and loneliness as the large portion that forms the form in how human beings interact is gone an cannot be replaced by how persons interact through short messages and pictures. The sense of bodily interaction and face to face contact and interaction plays a large part in our daily routines that cannot be ignored and replaced by the use of facebook. Most of what is written on the statuses is much of outer feelings which are to be accompanied with the body languages to give a true and positive picture23. Without the body language expressions the mind suffers a deficit and creates a source of loneliness which eventually would result in loneliness and depression. In most of our daily lives and the mode through which the human mind and brain functions, the need to accompany the speech and body language is vital. Lack of the quality social relationships is largely the main contributing factors to depression among many persons in the new world society. The use of the facebook has had a push on to the human beings to believe they are social creatures24. Privacy The use of the facebook has had difficulties in providing privacy to the users. Much of the information that is posted on the wall walls and the status of the facebook users is mainly distributed, viewed and even used by many other users who have connections and access to their sites or their friend’s. Most of the posted information is always permanent and viral any time they are posted on the net. When the rightful person deletes the information from his or her status, there are possibilities that another person or persons of large interest to the information may have copied it and stored it for use in another site like the facebook25. This implies that the persons posting this information do not have the slightest idea that the information could be posted and be made to appear in other social sites possibly in a more different version and mode that the sole owner could not have intended and at any possible time. Much of this lack in privacy has been reported in many social network sites like Facebook. The privacy controls have and are always been hacked or interfered with every time they are changed and updated. This is even more so even after the user of the facebook has deactivated the accounts as the site will always have a store of his/her information26 . Performance Most employers have had to check their employees and potential employees’ true characters. This is often when the potential job seekers and workers do not set their profiles in to private. Many potential jobseekers have had their job applications and employment opportunities turned off as their picture on the facebook do not reflect their characteristics at work or for the job they had either applied or were willing to be absorbed in27. Many employers also check the qualifications of their candidates online to find out their true potential. The sites can offer negative advantages if what is posted on the walls and the activities you engage in during your free time is not inline with what the true expected reflection of you is different from that which the employer needs or wants28. In addition, facebook is considered to have been a haven through which pornographic materials have been circulated. Since the privacy mode is highly hacked into, the sites do not have the control of the edited pictures which often use other person’s faces and pictures to hide the true proponents of the activities. The pornographic materials have a chance to spread at an even faster rate and to many persons at one given time since the posted documents are always viewed by many persons at one given time29. Many of the site users often use pictures of underage persons which c edited images. This implies that the sites have been a secrete hide out for the persons who are high predators of embarrassing photos and comments. It is however difficult to net the real proponents of this syndicate as most often use names that are not officially known to their home countries and close persons30. Cybercrime The sites have also been known to harbor persons with intentions to solicit money from persons with little knowledge of the existence of fraud in the facebook website. Most facebook users have their identities hidden as it is not possible to really identify his/her true identity if you have not met them. In the year 2009, the sites identified to have 90,000 registered users of the sites who were sex offenders on facebook31. Even if the sites management decides to track and blacklist all the solicitors and offenders from the sites it is impossible to have and identify all of them and have them stopped from using the sites. There is always a chance for them to have access to the sites by opening new accounts32. Others Lastly, manyly face book sites are an alley for online cyber bulling as a study in 2009 identified that 17.3% of the middle school students have been victims to this. This has lead into the victims experience a drop in grades and performance levels. The victims are also perceived to have low self esteem and suffered depression as a result of loneliness. Moreover, the cites have been blocked from use by the US marine as it offers a chance for exposing secret information that is meant for use in military operations. Facebook networks also have been a security threat as they are used to spread computer viruses which hamper and decrease productivity among the employees and other online users33. The usage of the site has also been cited as a main causal factor for brain and personality disorders which include the inability to have a real conversation, limited span in attention the immediate need for speedy and instant gratification among others. The use of facebook has left the users to security risks from cyber criminals. This site is prone to these attacks since it is viewed as just social with no connections or implications34. The sites are also has been seen as a creation by people to make money and not to benefit or improve other persons lives. The sites use the information of other persons and acquire information on how to advertise their products or their agenda if political35. Refutation for the discussed disadvantages of facebook In view of the negative side effects of the facebook sites, the various inventors have come up with measures that are aimed at eliminating harm to the users. The human resource management in the various employment organizations has resulted in either limiting the time and the information the workers are to get from the sites. Other employers have completed burned the use of the sites completely. In most cases, various organizations have resulted in the creation of or the invention of monitoring gadgets and software that is meant to minimize the abuse if the sites. Governments through their communication agencies have made it a priority to monitor the activities on the site and address on any information that is aimed at causing unrest or insecurity among the citizens36. The sites inventors have made it a priority to the users to be able to have their information privatized by creating features that enable the users to activate these icons so as to have their information not to be used inappropriately. This includes the blocking of under age users from accessing the sites and banning of persons who engage in solicitation or pornographic activities through the sites37. The refutation of the disadvantage as discussed above clearly indicates that with such adjustment to Facebook then, the world would be a safer place to be in with the existence of Facebook. Conclusion Evidently, there are more advantages of Facebook as opposed to disadvantages thus giving the indication that the world is a safer and better place to live in with the existence of Facebook. Facebook as a social networking site has had positive as well as negative impact on the lives of its users. Cultures that emerge through the use of the social media networks are as varied as its use. Many politicians have employed the use of the facebook and have harvested meaningful gains through it38. The employers too have used the sites to either get meaningful and resourceful personnel for their firms or have the employees visit and use the sites to ensure that they tap the relevant and required techniques through which they can be able to meaningfully impact on their businesses. Businesses that need to venture in to the new world have also employed the use of the site as a viable means through which they can be able to sell or advertise their ideas to the target community or group39. The media has however negative influences that range from how it is used. It is reportedly to be behind the lack of productiveness and low morale of the workers and an avenue that has promoted the spread of societal vices. The site has been related to the increase in the security levels in various nations and communities through the use of coded languages that are mainly and only understood by the users themselves and in the closed society. It is the responsibility of the inventors and managers of the sites to have it serve its purposes of creating a wholesome benefit to the dynamic era of immense globalization40. There is need to invent and implement stringent measures that are aimed at curbing vices on the use of the social sites. As much as it is not possible to curb and blacklist users that do not meaningfully utilize the sites it is important to create awareness and give knowledge to the innocent users and put in place laws and rules that will streamline the sites to their effective use. The inventors of the sites should however switch from having the sites as an avenue for harvesting quick money and have them be sites to embrace positive change among its users41. References Journals Alemán, Ana M. 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